Ethiopia - Concerts

In Addis Ababa, 2005, following a research visit to the southwest, Paul Winter presented two concerts, one for the Cultural Arts Society of Ethiopia, and the other for the Yared School of music.

In April 2006, Paul Winter and his colleagues presented 3 concerts of “The Great Rift Valley Suite” in Addis Ababa, along with cultural musical groups from the Ari, D'Irashe and Basketo communities of southern Ethiopia; master lyre player Dokku Lenda from Lante; and Justin Matu, Charles Busuulwa, Robert Ssimbwa and Isaac Zimbe, from Uganda.

In September 2008, Paul Winter and a core Great Rift Valley Orchestra, including Mugwisa Kalifani (Uganda); Andrea Kalima, and Mwanaima Mrutu (Tanzania); with musicians from the D'Irashe tribe (Ethiopia), presented 2 concerts in Awassa and Arba Minch.

The goals of these collaborative concerts were three-fold: To raise awareness and appreciation for bird migrations, to develop musical relationships toward the Flyways composition, and to validate these indigenous traditions within the urban community of the cultural and governing elite of Addis Ababa.

The concerts were presented in conjunction with the Culture and Art Society of Ethiopia (CASE), a non-profit, non-governmental Society operating in Ethiopia.  One of the areas that CASE involves itself in is the promotion of cultural activities of indigenous communities. CASE believes that creating such collaborative forums, as these concerts, will help win respect for local cultures and build the confidence of indigenous communities.

Rehearsing near Lake Awassa in the Ethiopian Great Rift Valley

Performances took place at the University of Hawassa and the University of Arba Minch, with the 26-member panpipe ensemble of the D'Irashe tribe.

Mwanaima (back left), from Tanzania, learning dance steps from the D'Irashe.

Paul Winter (saxophone) with (right to left) Andy Cooke, Andrea Kalima (Tanzania), Dokku Lenda (Ethiopia), and Mugwisa Kalifani (Uganda), with some of the D'Irashe ensemble behind.

The performing ensemble, with some of the members of the D'Irashe group

Looking towards Lake Awassa, in the middle of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The Lake has been designated as an "Important Bird Area", estimated to hold a minimum of 20,000 waterbirds on a seasonal basis.